Most feng shui principals are common sense, so be prepared to ‘clear' and ’Create” before you ‘add’ anything. Since we spend many hours in our bedroom, more than we do in any other room.
Your personal focus should begin IN THE bedroom to create serenity, auspicious circumstances and opportunities and imminent growth.
Let’s start to create serenity with the door and the Greeter the door is where the energy (or chi) enters your space.
A bedroom door needs to open completely (90 degrees /at a right angle.)This represents the full allowance of fortuitous opportunities and good possibilities to come in. Doors that open less than 90* symbolically means restricted of opportunities .
The Greeter is the first thing your eyes see when entering through the doorway in your bedroom. You could strategically place something that energetically says nice things to you, such as a photo, a favorite quote, a painting, sculpture, flower vase or any symbol of welcome.
Clutter and organization Clutter needs to be cleaned up to Create serenity, to live efficiently and to function optimally. Clutter ‘keeps you in the past’ and does not allow forward progress. Symbolically clutter represents all that is left undone in your life. Tackle small projects at first, to avoid “overwhelm”.
Begin with a drawer or a portion of a closet. You’ll then be inspired to move on to the bureau and the entire closet & other cluttered areas. Better organization empowers you. clear energy flow Feng and Shui mean wind and water which both have natural flows. For your safety and well as for clear energy circulation, its best not to have an obstructed walk way. Pick up shoes, bags, wires, and papers to assure good energy flow, ease of movement , a sense of organization & a serene place to rest.
What’s opposite the door Often there is a window across the room directly aligned with your door. This may mean that the energy that comes in and flies right out. A cure for this would be to hang from the ceiling, a multifaceted crystal midway between the door and the window. This will help the energy to stay in your space.
If a wall is opposite your door and the distance is shorter than you are tall, the cure would be to hang a mirror on that wall to help circulate the energy instead of having the energy hit a (brick) wall. . Ideal bed orientation The direction that your bed faces (as you sit up in bed & look over your feet upon waking), determines the ‘command position’. This means your are in control or not!
don’t worry about the absolute direction, like east north, etc. The command position or power position just means that you’re able to see the entrance/ bedroom door. With a sense of command, there lies serene assurance. It is not good to be in direct alignment (feet pointing out the door ~the chinese and other cultures say this is the ‘death position‘~). If you can’t move your bed so that you see the door, the cure is: to rig a mirror to enable yourself to see the door when you sit up in bed.
Try not to have a mirror opposite the foot of the bed. Cure: it is better to place the mirror behind the bed or to its side. This cure assures that you feel, serene & like yourself upon waking. In your bedroom, be careful not to sleep under an exposed beam in the ceiling~ a direct symbol of oppression~,There is no serenity with direct oppression.
Cure: Move the bed, if you can’t move the bed, place two chinese flutes on the wall on either side of the bed to symbolically lift the oppressive energy. Lay on your bed and see if you are in direct alignment with a ‘poison arrow’ which is any sharp corner whose tangent is aimed and shoots ill energy toward your head.
There is no serenity while under attack. Cure: move the bed or soften and camouflage the sharp corner. So you see with this understanding and some ‘work’ at cleaning up first, setting a scene of what represents quiet serene, calm and warm-fuzzy cultivation and then adding a few cures you can invite opportunities, enhance your power. keep the good energy within,, and feel better about yourself and your serene surroundings.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
AROMATHERAPY: uses essential oils from flowers, trees, roots, herbs, berries and fruits, to treat emotional disorders such as stress and anxiety as well as a wide range of other ailments and to promote physical, mental and emotional wellness. Oils are either massaged into the skin in diluted form, inhaled, placed in baths, or applied on and around the body.
Aromatherapy is often used in conjunction with massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, herbology, chiropractic and other wholistic healing.
What is aromatherapy?
It is the controlled use of natural essential oils in the process of physical and emotional healing. You may have discovered that in some ways, you've been experiencing aromatherapy most of your life without even knowing it.
We have all experienced memory recall triggered by a particular scent; perhaps the scent of a favorite flower, or the perfume your grandmother used to wear, or an aunt's linen closet. The event can produce positive or negative memories. Certain scents may trigger negative thoughts of a person or place in your past. Whatever the case, the importance of scent in our lives is quite profound and in some ways, unique to each of us. Aromatherapy is a way to enjoy a controlled use of natural oils to enrich and benefit your life.
What are essential oils?
Whole, pure essential oils come from nature; they are the "essence" of plants. They are droplets of water-like fluid contained in the leaves, stems, bark, flowers, roots and/or fruits of different plants, and give the plant its unique scent. Essential oils are volatile, whereas they easily transfer from a liquid to a gaseous state at room temperature or higher. The amount of essential oil found in most plants is 1 to 2%, but can contain amounts from 0.01 to 10%. They can change in composition and location with a particular plant. For example, orange trees produce neroli oil in their blossoms, orange oil in their citrus, and petitgrain oil in their leaves. Essential oils are also very concentrated and extremely potent, and sometimes 75 to 100 times more concentrated than say, the herb it is present in. This is all the more reason to use these oils with thorough knowledge of their potency.
How are essential oils extracted?
There are two common procedures for extracting true essential oils:
1. Steam distillation
2. Expression
The process of steam distillation has 5 steps:
1. Steam plant material
2. Collect steam carrying aromatic molecules
3. Cool in cold-water bath
4. Produce floral water and essential oil
5. Separate essential oil, then bottle
This process is also the most popular for obtaining the essential oils from plants. The steam is forced into a vat containing the plant material, which ruptures the oil glands and releases the oil. The volatile oils are cooled, separated from the water content, and bottled. It may take hundreds or thousands of pounds of plant material to distill a single pound of the essential oil. Bulgarian Rose oil requires about 4,000 pounds of hand-picked flower petals to make 1 pound of oil, obviously making this one expensive oil!
The second method, extraction, has 4 major steps:
1. Have citrus peels
2. Machine press
3. Obtain essential oils and fruit waxes
4. Separate oils, then bottle
This method is primarily used in the perfume and food industries, and does not produce a 100% pure essential oil. Solvents are used in the process to pull out the soluable molecules; therefore making them incomplete oils. Resins, concretes, absolutes, and pomades result from this method.
How are essential oils taken in?
Essential oils are absorbed into the body two ways; through the skin and through nasal inhalation. Our sense of smell, controlled by the olfactory system, is some 10,000 times greater than any other sense. The olfactory system is directly linked to the limbic system, which is responsible for our emotional state, memory, and certain regulatory function.
Essential oils also penetrate the skin, or the integumentary system. Because essential oils have a low molecular weight and are organic in nature, they are absorbed through the pores and hair follicles of the skin, and unlike synthetic chemicals, they do not accumulate in the body. Absorption can take place anywhere from 15 minutes to 12 hours, and take from 3 to 6 hours to be metabolized in a healthy body. Excessive fat or toughened skin may slow down the rate of absorption; whereas heat, water, exercise, or broken skin may speed it up.
How are essential oils used?
Aromatherapy is used to self-heal and soothe common, everyday health challenges. It is by no means a replacement for the opinion of a licensed physician, and should always be used with respect.
As with all things derived from nature, some essential oils are considered hazardous, and under certain circumstances, should be avoided. Some are phototoxic, neurotoxic, or carcinogenic, and safety precautions should always be considered when working with and administering any essential oil.
Here are common-sense safety points to note:
1. Avoid essential oils deemed as hazardous
2. Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children.
3. Remember essentail oils are very potent.
4. Do not take orally.
5. Follow dilution guidelines carefully. Never use an oil without first diluting.
6. Use 1% or less dilution during pregnancy.
7. Be aware of others with sensitivities or allergies.
8. Do not use on or near the eyes.
9. Do a skin patch test if prone to sensitivities.
10. Use extra care on broken or damaged skin.
11. Avoid phototoxic essential oils if history of skin cancer.
12. Keep them away from light and heat sources.
13. Use only therapeutic genuine and authentic essential oils.
Aromatherapy is often used in conjunction with massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, herbology, chiropractic and other wholistic healing.
What is aromatherapy?
It is the controlled use of natural essential oils in the process of physical and emotional healing. You may have discovered that in some ways, you've been experiencing aromatherapy most of your life without even knowing it.
We have all experienced memory recall triggered by a particular scent; perhaps the scent of a favorite flower, or the perfume your grandmother used to wear, or an aunt's linen closet. The event can produce positive or negative memories. Certain scents may trigger negative thoughts of a person or place in your past. Whatever the case, the importance of scent in our lives is quite profound and in some ways, unique to each of us. Aromatherapy is a way to enjoy a controlled use of natural oils to enrich and benefit your life.
What are essential oils?
Whole, pure essential oils come from nature; they are the "essence" of plants. They are droplets of water-like fluid contained in the leaves, stems, bark, flowers, roots and/or fruits of different plants, and give the plant its unique scent. Essential oils are volatile, whereas they easily transfer from a liquid to a gaseous state at room temperature or higher. The amount of essential oil found in most plants is 1 to 2%, but can contain amounts from 0.01 to 10%. They can change in composition and location with a particular plant. For example, orange trees produce neroli oil in their blossoms, orange oil in their citrus, and petitgrain oil in their leaves. Essential oils are also very concentrated and extremely potent, and sometimes 75 to 100 times more concentrated than say, the herb it is present in. This is all the more reason to use these oils with thorough knowledge of their potency.
How are essential oils extracted?
There are two common procedures for extracting true essential oils:
1. Steam distillation
2. Expression
The process of steam distillation has 5 steps:
1. Steam plant material
2. Collect steam carrying aromatic molecules
3. Cool in cold-water bath
4. Produce floral water and essential oil
5. Separate essential oil, then bottle
This process is also the most popular for obtaining the essential oils from plants. The steam is forced into a vat containing the plant material, which ruptures the oil glands and releases the oil. The volatile oils are cooled, separated from the water content, and bottled. It may take hundreds or thousands of pounds of plant material to distill a single pound of the essential oil. Bulgarian Rose oil requires about 4,000 pounds of hand-picked flower petals to make 1 pound of oil, obviously making this one expensive oil!
The second method, extraction, has 4 major steps:
1. Have citrus peels
2. Machine press
3. Obtain essential oils and fruit waxes
4. Separate oils, then bottle
This method is primarily used in the perfume and food industries, and does not produce a 100% pure essential oil. Solvents are used in the process to pull out the soluable molecules; therefore making them incomplete oils. Resins, concretes, absolutes, and pomades result from this method.
How are essential oils taken in?
Essential oils are absorbed into the body two ways; through the skin and through nasal inhalation. Our sense of smell, controlled by the olfactory system, is some 10,000 times greater than any other sense. The olfactory system is directly linked to the limbic system, which is responsible for our emotional state, memory, and certain regulatory function.
Essential oils also penetrate the skin, or the integumentary system. Because essential oils have a low molecular weight and are organic in nature, they are absorbed through the pores and hair follicles of the skin, and unlike synthetic chemicals, they do not accumulate in the body. Absorption can take place anywhere from 15 minutes to 12 hours, and take from 3 to 6 hours to be metabolized in a healthy body. Excessive fat or toughened skin may slow down the rate of absorption; whereas heat, water, exercise, or broken skin may speed it up.
How are essential oils used?
Aromatherapy is used to self-heal and soothe common, everyday health challenges. It is by no means a replacement for the opinion of a licensed physician, and should always be used with respect.
As with all things derived from nature, some essential oils are considered hazardous, and under certain circumstances, should be avoided. Some are phototoxic, neurotoxic, or carcinogenic, and safety precautions should always be considered when working with and administering any essential oil.
Here are common-sense safety points to note:
1. Avoid essential oils deemed as hazardous
2. Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children.
3. Remember essentail oils are very potent.
4. Do not take orally.
5. Follow dilution guidelines carefully. Never use an oil without first diluting.
6. Use 1% or less dilution during pregnancy.
7. Be aware of others with sensitivities or allergies.
8. Do not use on or near the eyes.
9. Do a skin patch test if prone to sensitivities.
10. Use extra care on broken or damaged skin.
11. Avoid phototoxic essential oils if history of skin cancer.
12. Keep them away from light and heat sources.
13. Use only therapeutic genuine and authentic essential oils.
Ayurveda Healing Waters
Ayurveda is perhaps the oldest science of life and a system of diet, healing and health maintenance that is deeply spiritual in origin. In this article the healing properties of water will be presented.
Well water, pond water, rain water – there are many types of water described in ayurvedic texts, and each has a therapeutic value, just as food does. water represents soma, the nourishing cooling quality that is associated with lunar energy. It helps with digestion, cools and balances pitta dosha, supports kapha and counteracts the dryness of vata. It nurtures, lubricates and also detoxifies when it flows out of the body as urine. water, when properly absorbed by the body, has several healing qualities.
1. helps to remove fatigue (shramnashana)
2. enhances glow of skin
3. prevents constipation
4. increase stamina
5. Provides satisfaction
6. helps the heart
7. Helps digestion
8. cooling
9. Always helpful to the body
10. Easy to assimilate
11. life-giving
12. antioxidant
The healing effects of water can be enhanced using ayurvedic methods.
water for cleansing
Sometimes people have dry skin and unquenchable thirst even though they drink lots of water. The deeper physiology is not getting enough moist. This occurs when the person’s agni is low and mucus blocks the micro channels, which carry water to the cells. In order to cleanse the channels and enhance moisture absorption, ayurvedic texts recommend boiling the water for various lengths of time, creating therapeutic water called ushnodaka. Another method is to add spices or herbs to the water after boiling.
Why it works
When the water boils, it gets charged with heat and becoming sharper in quality. This sharpness allows it to cleanse the channels and penetrate deeper levels of the physiology. spice creates an added therapeutic effect by interacting with the water on the molecular level. Spices create different effects on the body through aroma and taste.
It becomes easier for the body to flush out toxins and impurities because of the sharpness of the agni (heat) in the water and because of the sharpness of the spices. Over time, it cleanses the channels so the water is unobstructed as it travels into the body to hydrate the tissues, and travels out carrying waste.
ancient texts talk about the difference in the rate of absorption of regular water vs. boiled water:
1. Regular water – takes about six hours if every channel is clear.
2. Boiled and cooled water – takes about three hours to be absorbed, and helps open the channels
3. Hot herbalized water – takes about 1 1/2 hours, due to sharpness of agni, herbs and spices.
water for your body type
An ayurvedic expert can design a therapeutic water recipe to give a specific benefit. One water recipe might enhance immunity, another might cleanse the skin, and another might help with prostate imbalance. You can also choose a spice-water recipe for your body type of imbalances.
vata balancing water
Boil two quarts of water for 5 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 3 leaves mint, 1/2 tsp ajwain (ajwain is also known as bishop's Weed, relatid with cumin but tastes more like thyme with an astringent edge) and 1/4 tsp singhada flour. Place the water in a thermos. Sip it throughout the day at a warm but not hot temperature.
pitta balancing water
Boil two quarts of water for 2 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 1/4 tsp ajwain, 2 rose buds and 1 clove. store in hot in inside a thermos, but before drinking pour it into a cup and let it cool to room temperature in summer. In winter, it can be slightly warmer.
kapha balancing water
Boil two quarts of water for 5 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 3 holy basil leaves (Tulsi), two thin slices of fresh ginger, 1/4 tsp of cumin and 1/2 tsp of ajwain. Place the water and spices in a thermos, and sip the water at a hot or warm temperature throughout the day.
How much is enough
How much water you should drink depends on your age, how much physical work or exercise you do, the weather, your diet, your stress levels, your herbal food supplements, and your body type. The warm pitta types usually are thirstier than the watery kapha types. vata types are often constipated or have dry skin and thus need to drink more water.
We recommend making your spice water first thing in the morning and sipping it every fifteen minutes throughout the day. Drink plain water after 7:00 pm, as spice-water is too enlivening to drink right before sleeping. If you don’t finish the spice-water by then, throw it out and start fresh in the morning.
You may want to drink some plain water during the day as well. If you have been exercising and need to drink a full glass of water, it’s better to drink plain water rather than the spice-water.
Well water, pond water, rain water – there are many types of water described in ayurvedic texts, and each has a therapeutic value, just as food does. water represents soma, the nourishing cooling quality that is associated with lunar energy. It helps with digestion, cools and balances pitta dosha, supports kapha and counteracts the dryness of vata. It nurtures, lubricates and also detoxifies when it flows out of the body as urine. water, when properly absorbed by the body, has several healing qualities.
1. helps to remove fatigue (shramnashana)
2. enhances glow of skin
3. prevents constipation
4. increase stamina
5. Provides satisfaction
6. helps the heart
7. Helps digestion
8. cooling
9. Always helpful to the body
10. Easy to assimilate
11. life-giving
12. antioxidant
The healing effects of water can be enhanced using ayurvedic methods.
water for cleansing
Sometimes people have dry skin and unquenchable thirst even though they drink lots of water. The deeper physiology is not getting enough moist. This occurs when the person’s agni is low and mucus blocks the micro channels, which carry water to the cells. In order to cleanse the channels and enhance moisture absorption, ayurvedic texts recommend boiling the water for various lengths of time, creating therapeutic water called ushnodaka. Another method is to add spices or herbs to the water after boiling.
Why it works
When the water boils, it gets charged with heat and becoming sharper in quality. This sharpness allows it to cleanse the channels and penetrate deeper levels of the physiology. spice creates an added therapeutic effect by interacting with the water on the molecular level. Spices create different effects on the body through aroma and taste.
It becomes easier for the body to flush out toxins and impurities because of the sharpness of the agni (heat) in the water and because of the sharpness of the spices. Over time, it cleanses the channels so the water is unobstructed as it travels into the body to hydrate the tissues, and travels out carrying waste.
ancient texts talk about the difference in the rate of absorption of regular water vs. boiled water:
1. Regular water – takes about six hours if every channel is clear.
2. Boiled and cooled water – takes about three hours to be absorbed, and helps open the channels
3. Hot herbalized water – takes about 1 1/2 hours, due to sharpness of agni, herbs and spices.
water for your body type
An ayurvedic expert can design a therapeutic water recipe to give a specific benefit. One water recipe might enhance immunity, another might cleanse the skin, and another might help with prostate imbalance. You can also choose a spice-water recipe for your body type of imbalances.
vata balancing water
Boil two quarts of water for 5 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 3 leaves mint, 1/2 tsp ajwain (ajwain is also known as bishop's Weed, relatid with cumin but tastes more like thyme with an astringent edge) and 1/4 tsp singhada flour. Place the water in a thermos. Sip it throughout the day at a warm but not hot temperature.
pitta balancing water
Boil two quarts of water for 2 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 1/4 tsp ajwain, 2 rose buds and 1 clove. store in hot in inside a thermos, but before drinking pour it into a cup and let it cool to room temperature in summer. In winter, it can be slightly warmer.
kapha balancing water
Boil two quarts of water for 5 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 3 holy basil leaves (Tulsi), two thin slices of fresh ginger, 1/4 tsp of cumin and 1/2 tsp of ajwain. Place the water and spices in a thermos, and sip the water at a hot or warm temperature throughout the day.
How much is enough
How much water you should drink depends on your age, how much physical work or exercise you do, the weather, your diet, your stress levels, your herbal food supplements, and your body type. The warm pitta types usually are thirstier than the watery kapha types. vata types are often constipated or have dry skin and thus need to drink more water.
We recommend making your spice water first thing in the morning and sipping it every fifteen minutes throughout the day. Drink plain water after 7:00 pm, as spice-water is too enlivening to drink right before sleeping. If you don’t finish the spice-water by then, throw it out and start fresh in the morning.
You may want to drink some plain water during the day as well. If you have been exercising and need to drink a full glass of water, it’s better to drink plain water rather than the spice-water.
Feng Shui
Our home, our domain. The one safe retreat for us when we are hurt, upset or threatened. Nothing can happen to us there.
So imagine someone coming and telling that your haven can cause miseries, especially if you keep certain wrong things in the wrong direction? Yet that's what people are being told today, making them change everything they have so far been used to.
Because with the economical and cultural globalisation, the chinese feng shui has entered also indian homes. Suddenly everything that was previously done was pooh-poohed. Everything, right from the pictures in your house to your sleeping positions were changed. You had to have lights on every beam and wind chimes in every nook, brass turtles on your floors and your favourite idol of goddess lakshmi got replaced by toads! The ancestral houses were no longer 'good' for the inhabitants. The direction of everyone's entry into the house was changed. People started investing in fortune bamboos and laughing buddhas.
Then, not to be kept under wraps of old-fashionedness, vaastu lifted its head. Soon two camps were formed, and after much mud slinging (feng shui-ites called vaastu the outdated, unfashionable idea and vaastu loyals called feng shui unreligious chinese vaastu), people began to wonder - which was the right one, who would give them good days?
feng shui v/s vaastu
To find out who's more authentic and beneficial, we must know everything about the two first. vaastu, which literally means to live, works on the premise that the earth is a living organism, out of which other living organisms emerge. This life energy is known as vaastu purusha. The vaastu shastra works for a bounded premise i.e., a house, building, industrial area or shop. The main aim is to form a balance between the outside atmosphere and the atmosphere within the premise. vaastu makes use of five elements - prithvi (earth), agni (fire), tej (light), vayu (wind) and akash (ether), the earth's magnetic fields i.e. the north and the south pole and the sun's rays. feng shui literally means wind and water, is based on the idea that individuals should live in harmony with their environment. It was believed that if we live in balance with the order of the world, we could attract fortune and prosperity.
This science makes extensive use of the wind and the water - the former is supposed to carry the energy and the latter is supposed to retain it. In addition, feng shui also makes use of five elements - earth, fire, water, wood and metal.
So even as the basic premise of both seems to be the same - living in harmony with the environments and seeking equilibrium with it - both sciences have vast differences in the way they operate. Probably due to the fact that they have originated in two geographically and culturally different areas, and different times.
history
vaastu dates back to the times when the sages lived - probably 6,000 and 3,000 BC. The mention of vaastu can be found in ancient scriptures like the Rigveda, Atharvaveda, ramayana, mahabharata, Mayamatam, Manasa saar, etc. ancient indian architecture depended on this science for the building of almost all the palaces and temples. Although the exact origins of feng shui are debatable, it is thought to have originated about five thousand years ago. Scholars have recorded various aspects of feng shui as early as the song Dynasty (960 BC). However, the basic principles of feng shui were first written down during the han dynasty (25 AD).
How vaastu works
vaastu works on three principles of design that cover the entire premise. The first one is Bhogadyam, which says that the designed premise must be useful and lend itself to easy application. The second is sukha Darsham, in which the designed premise must be aesthetically pleasing. The proportions of the spaces and the material used, in the interiors and exteriors of the building - ornamentation, colour, sizes of the windows, doors and the rooms and the rhythms of projection and depressions - should be beautiful. The third principle is Ramya, where the designed premise should evoke a feeling of well being in the user.
Also, vaastu is a complicated form of science put together by seventeen sages. There are certain rules that should be followed while building a house or a building. For instance, the building's underground water tank or well should be situated in the northeast direction. But, if the building has an overhead tank then it should be placed in the southwest direction. Also, more space should be left to the north and the east of the building compound and less on the south and the west. Open space should be kept around the building and if the plot has a road on the east-north directions, it is better for the inhabitants.
In the kitchen, the platform should be placed in the east with the cooking stove on the right hand side and the sink and the water on the left. The mandir of the house should be in the northeast direction. The permanent or the heavy items should be kept in the south and southwest side of the building and so with equipments like TV, radio or any other entertainment device. Sleeping in the right direction is also an important factor in vaastu; the head should be in the east or the south directions.
vaastu shastra, in addition, also says what kinds of plants and trees are good for the family residing in the building.
It is believed that if a house is built on these few rules, then that particular house will never face serious health and money problems and the family members will live in harmony.
How feng shui works
In practice, feng shui is optimising one's space in a specific period of time. Traditional feng shui gives equal importance to Time, space and action. So it is important to have a mix of the right action, in the right place at the right time to do well. The most important principles therefore are 'earth luck', the energies that are present in your space and time. The second is the 'man luck', which are your own actions and free will. So how you use the available opportunities make a difference in your life. The third one is 'heaven luck', which is your fate and destiny and least in your hands.
These three principles make it easy for us to understand why different people moving into the same house can do varied things in their lives.
Also, the traditional feng shui has two main systems of application - the eight mansions or the Pachai and the flying stars or the Xuan Kong meaning time and space. The former is very simple and most popular; it is usually done if you do not know the year in which your building was constructed which is important in the latter. It is a less detailed system and gives you 80 per cent results as compared to the other.
The flying stars however is a very complex system, it is actually making a horoscope of your house, and is much more effective. Since the stars change every two years, so do the cures of feng shui. The difference between the two is same as the difference between your weekly horoscope appearing in the newspaper and your janampatri.
Even if vaastu and feng shui both mean to harmonise you with your surroundings, they have totally different philosophies. It is very difficult to say which is better, but the fact is that both are encompassed in the blanket of misconceptions. People believe that feng shui means changing everything that they had done around their homes earlier. But it is not true. In fact, the real masters say that if you have been having a satisfactory life in the terms of health, wealth and relationships, your house is utilising all the energies properly, so do not disturb it. Also, they warn against generalising of the good and the bad directions, as these directions vary from house to house and person to person. Therefore following these directions and putting up cures, especially the water ones, can do more harm than good as water is a very strong cure and is quick in showing both good and bad effects. And lastly, laughing buddhas, fortune bamboos, wind chimes and a few other feng shui items are not necessary. A good feng shui master will tell you affordable and simple alternatives that are very much indian and pleasing to the eye. So if you believe that an idol of goddess lakshmi represents wealth, you install it in your wealth corner and not the three-legged toad.
vaastu is also a victim of misunderstanding. It is believed that as vaastu is done at the time of the construction of the house, what happens latter, good or bad is inevitable and cannot be changed. But vaastu shastra believes that just like humans, a building has a life that weakens after some years. Therefore, to rejuvenate it, the resident must do a vaastu puja every 30 years. Whatever the differences, both these methods have proved that there is a definite science involved and should not be taken lightly.
So imagine someone coming and telling that your haven can cause miseries, especially if you keep certain wrong things in the wrong direction? Yet that's what people are being told today, making them change everything they have so far been used to.
Because with the economical and cultural globalisation, the chinese feng shui has entered also indian homes. Suddenly everything that was previously done was pooh-poohed. Everything, right from the pictures in your house to your sleeping positions were changed. You had to have lights on every beam and wind chimes in every nook, brass turtles on your floors and your favourite idol of goddess lakshmi got replaced by toads! The ancestral houses were no longer 'good' for the inhabitants. The direction of everyone's entry into the house was changed. People started investing in fortune bamboos and laughing buddhas.
Then, not to be kept under wraps of old-fashionedness, vaastu lifted its head. Soon two camps were formed, and after much mud slinging (feng shui-ites called vaastu the outdated, unfashionable idea and vaastu loyals called feng shui unreligious chinese vaastu), people began to wonder - which was the right one, who would give them good days?
feng shui v/s vaastu
To find out who's more authentic and beneficial, we must know everything about the two first. vaastu, which literally means to live, works on the premise that the earth is a living organism, out of which other living organisms emerge. This life energy is known as vaastu purusha. The vaastu shastra works for a bounded premise i.e., a house, building, industrial area or shop. The main aim is to form a balance between the outside atmosphere and the atmosphere within the premise. vaastu makes use of five elements - prithvi (earth), agni (fire), tej (light), vayu (wind) and akash (ether), the earth's magnetic fields i.e. the north and the south pole and the sun's rays. feng shui literally means wind and water, is based on the idea that individuals should live in harmony with their environment. It was believed that if we live in balance with the order of the world, we could attract fortune and prosperity.
This science makes extensive use of the wind and the water - the former is supposed to carry the energy and the latter is supposed to retain it. In addition, feng shui also makes use of five elements - earth, fire, water, wood and metal.
So even as the basic premise of both seems to be the same - living in harmony with the environments and seeking equilibrium with it - both sciences have vast differences in the way they operate. Probably due to the fact that they have originated in two geographically and culturally different areas, and different times.
history
vaastu dates back to the times when the sages lived - probably 6,000 and 3,000 BC. The mention of vaastu can be found in ancient scriptures like the Rigveda, Atharvaveda, ramayana, mahabharata, Mayamatam, Manasa saar, etc. ancient indian architecture depended on this science for the building of almost all the palaces and temples. Although the exact origins of feng shui are debatable, it is thought to have originated about five thousand years ago. Scholars have recorded various aspects of feng shui as early as the song Dynasty (960 BC). However, the basic principles of feng shui were first written down during the han dynasty (25 AD).
How vaastu works
vaastu works on three principles of design that cover the entire premise. The first one is Bhogadyam, which says that the designed premise must be useful and lend itself to easy application. The second is sukha Darsham, in which the designed premise must be aesthetically pleasing. The proportions of the spaces and the material used, in the interiors and exteriors of the building - ornamentation, colour, sizes of the windows, doors and the rooms and the rhythms of projection and depressions - should be beautiful. The third principle is Ramya, where the designed premise should evoke a feeling of well being in the user.
Also, vaastu is a complicated form of science put together by seventeen sages. There are certain rules that should be followed while building a house or a building. For instance, the building's underground water tank or well should be situated in the northeast direction. But, if the building has an overhead tank then it should be placed in the southwest direction. Also, more space should be left to the north and the east of the building compound and less on the south and the west. Open space should be kept around the building and if the plot has a road on the east-north directions, it is better for the inhabitants.
In the kitchen, the platform should be placed in the east with the cooking stove on the right hand side and the sink and the water on the left. The mandir of the house should be in the northeast direction. The permanent or the heavy items should be kept in the south and southwest side of the building and so with equipments like TV, radio or any other entertainment device. Sleeping in the right direction is also an important factor in vaastu; the head should be in the east or the south directions.
vaastu shastra, in addition, also says what kinds of plants and trees are good for the family residing in the building.
It is believed that if a house is built on these few rules, then that particular house will never face serious health and money problems and the family members will live in harmony.
How feng shui works
In practice, feng shui is optimising one's space in a specific period of time. Traditional feng shui gives equal importance to Time, space and action. So it is important to have a mix of the right action, in the right place at the right time to do well. The most important principles therefore are 'earth luck', the energies that are present in your space and time. The second is the 'man luck', which are your own actions and free will. So how you use the available opportunities make a difference in your life. The third one is 'heaven luck', which is your fate and destiny and least in your hands.
These three principles make it easy for us to understand why different people moving into the same house can do varied things in their lives.
Also, the traditional feng shui has two main systems of application - the eight mansions or the Pachai and the flying stars or the Xuan Kong meaning time and space. The former is very simple and most popular; it is usually done if you do not know the year in which your building was constructed which is important in the latter. It is a less detailed system and gives you 80 per cent results as compared to the other.
The flying stars however is a very complex system, it is actually making a horoscope of your house, and is much more effective. Since the stars change every two years, so do the cures of feng shui. The difference between the two is same as the difference between your weekly horoscope appearing in the newspaper and your janampatri.
Even if vaastu and feng shui both mean to harmonise you with your surroundings, they have totally different philosophies. It is very difficult to say which is better, but the fact is that both are encompassed in the blanket of misconceptions. People believe that feng shui means changing everything that they had done around their homes earlier. But it is not true. In fact, the real masters say that if you have been having a satisfactory life in the terms of health, wealth and relationships, your house is utilising all the energies properly, so do not disturb it. Also, they warn against generalising of the good and the bad directions, as these directions vary from house to house and person to person. Therefore following these directions and putting up cures, especially the water ones, can do more harm than good as water is a very strong cure and is quick in showing both good and bad effects. And lastly, laughing buddhas, fortune bamboos, wind chimes and a few other feng shui items are not necessary. A good feng shui master will tell you affordable and simple alternatives that are very much indian and pleasing to the eye. So if you believe that an idol of goddess lakshmi represents wealth, you install it in your wealth corner and not the three-legged toad.
vaastu is also a victim of misunderstanding. It is believed that as vaastu is done at the time of the construction of the house, what happens latter, good or bad is inevitable and cannot be changed. But vaastu shastra believes that just like humans, a building has a life that weakens after some years. Therefore, to rejuvenate it, the resident must do a vaastu puja every 30 years. Whatever the differences, both these methods have proved that there is a definite science involved and should not be taken lightly.
Health applications and clinical studies of meditation
In the recent years there has been a growing interest within the medical community to study the physiological effects of meditation (Venkatesh et al., 1997; Peng et al., 1999; Lazar et al., 2000; Carlson et.al, 2001). Many concepts of meditation have been applied to clinical settings in order to measure its effect on somatic motor function as well as cardiovascular and respiratory function. Also the hermeneutic and phenomenological aspects of meditation are objects of growing interest. Meditation has entered the mainstream of health care as a method of stress and pain reduction. For example, in an early study in 1972, transcendental meditation was shown to affect the human metabolism by lowering the biochemical byproducts of stress, such as lactate (lactic acid), and by decreasing heart rate and blood pressure and inducing favorable brain waves. (Scientific American 226: 84-90 (1972)) The meditative aspects of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and some forms of yoga have also become increasingly popular as means of healthful stress management in recent years.
As a method of stress reduction, meditation is often used in hospitals in cases of chronic or terminal illness to reduce complications associated with increased stress including a depressed immune system. There is a growing consensus in the medical community that mental factors such as stress significantly contribute to a lack of physical health, and there is a growing movement in mainstream science to fund and do research in this area (e.g. the establishment by the NIH in the U.S. of 5 research centers to research the mind-body aspects of disease.) Dr. James Austin, a neurophysiologist at the University of Colorado, reported that Zen meditation rewires the circuitry of the brain in his landmark book Zen and the Brain (Austin, 1999). This has been confirmed using sophisticated imaging techniques which examine the electrical activity of the brain.
Dr. Herbert Benson of the Mind-Body Medical Institute, which is affiliated with Harvard and several Boston hospitals, reports that meditation induces a host of biochemical and physical changes in the body collectively referred to as the "relaxation response" (Lazar et.al, 2003). The relaxation response includes changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and brain chemistry. Benson and his team have also done clinical studies at Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayan Mountains. Among other well-known studies within this particular field of interest we find the research of Jon Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts who have done extensive research on the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress (Kabat-Zinn et.al, 1985; Davidson et.al,2003).
One of the most important invitations to study the clinical effects of meditation comes from The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has had many dialogues with Western scientists about this subject and it was at the top of the agenda when he visited Massachusetts Institute of Technology in September 2003 for the "Investigating the Mind conference".
Meditation and the Brain
Mindfulness meditation and related techniques are intended to train attention for the sake of provoking insight. Think of it as the opposite of attention deficit disorder. A wider, more flexible attention span makes it easier to be aware of a situation, easier to be objective in emotionally or morally difficult situations, and easier to achieve a state of responsive, creative awareness or "flow".
One theory, presented by Daniel Goleman & Tara Bennett-Goleman, suggests that meditation works because of the relationship between the amygdala, the part of the brain that handles emotions (sometimes referred to as the "emotional brain"), and the neocortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which handles reasoning and is also known as the inhibitory centre of the brain.
The neocortex processes information very deeply--so it's smart and flexible, but also very slow. Meanwhile, the amygdala, which is a simpler structure (and older in evolutionary terms), makes rapid guesses about our perceptions, and triggers an appropriate emotional response. These emotional responses are very powerful--often because they are related to our immediate survival needs. In other words, if you're an early human standing on the savannah and a lion jumps out at you, your amygdala will have you running and screaming long before your neocortex can figure out what's happening.
Of course, in making snap judgements, our amygdalas are prone to error, seeing danger where there is none. This is particularly true in contemporary society where social conflicts are far more common than encounters with predators. A basically harmless but emotionally charged situation can trigger our amygdala's fight or flight reflexes before we know what's happening, causing conflict, stress, anxiety, and frustration.
Certain kinds of meditation (also, martial arts, yoga, etc.) train attention to watch the entire experience, so it's possible to catch emotional reflexes before they take over--but at the same time without squashing or denying the emotion (which would only cause additional frustration). The trick is that there is very little time to do this (roughly a quarter of a second) before the amygdala takes over and the person is flooded with emotion. But the idea is that a skilled meditator can quickly reframe fear and anger, and mould them into constructive responses and perhaps even good cheer.
The different roles of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex can be easily observed under the influence of various drugs. Alcohol depresses the brain generally, but the complicated prefrontal cortex is more affected than the comparatively simple and robust amygdala, resulting in lowered inhibitions, decreased attention span, and increased influence of emotions over behaviour. Likewise, the controversial drug ritalin has the opposite effect, because it stimulates activity in the prefrontal cortex.
Some other studies of meditation have linked the practice to increased activity in the left prefrontal cortex, which is associated with concentration, planning, meta-cognition (thinking about thinking), and with positive affect (good feelings). There are similar studies linking depression and anxiety with decreased activity in the same region, and/or with dominant activity in the right prefrontal cortex. Meditation increases activity in the left prefrontal cortex, and the changes are stable over time--even if you stop meditating for a while, the effect lingers.
As a method of stress reduction, meditation is often used in hospitals in cases of chronic or terminal illness to reduce complications associated with increased stress including a depressed immune system. There is a growing consensus in the medical community that mental factors such as stress significantly contribute to a lack of physical health, and there is a growing movement in mainstream science to fund and do research in this area (e.g. the establishment by the NIH in the U.S. of 5 research centers to research the mind-body aspects of disease.) Dr. James Austin, a neurophysiologist at the University of Colorado, reported that Zen meditation rewires the circuitry of the brain in his landmark book Zen and the Brain (Austin, 1999). This has been confirmed using sophisticated imaging techniques which examine the electrical activity of the brain.
Dr. Herbert Benson of the Mind-Body Medical Institute, which is affiliated with Harvard and several Boston hospitals, reports that meditation induces a host of biochemical and physical changes in the body collectively referred to as the "relaxation response" (Lazar et.al, 2003). The relaxation response includes changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and brain chemistry. Benson and his team have also done clinical studies at Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayan Mountains. Among other well-known studies within this particular field of interest we find the research of Jon Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts who have done extensive research on the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress (Kabat-Zinn et.al, 1985; Davidson et.al,2003).
One of the most important invitations to study the clinical effects of meditation comes from The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has had many dialogues with Western scientists about this subject and it was at the top of the agenda when he visited Massachusetts Institute of Technology in September 2003 for the "Investigating the Mind conference".
Meditation and the Brain
Mindfulness meditation and related techniques are intended to train attention for the sake of provoking insight. Think of it as the opposite of attention deficit disorder. A wider, more flexible attention span makes it easier to be aware of a situation, easier to be objective in emotionally or morally difficult situations, and easier to achieve a state of responsive, creative awareness or "flow".
One theory, presented by Daniel Goleman & Tara Bennett-Goleman, suggests that meditation works because of the relationship between the amygdala, the part of the brain that handles emotions (sometimes referred to as the "emotional brain"), and the neocortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which handles reasoning and is also known as the inhibitory centre of the brain.
The neocortex processes information very deeply--so it's smart and flexible, but also very slow. Meanwhile, the amygdala, which is a simpler structure (and older in evolutionary terms), makes rapid guesses about our perceptions, and triggers an appropriate emotional response. These emotional responses are very powerful--often because they are related to our immediate survival needs. In other words, if you're an early human standing on the savannah and a lion jumps out at you, your amygdala will have you running and screaming long before your neocortex can figure out what's happening.
Of course, in making snap judgements, our amygdalas are prone to error, seeing danger where there is none. This is particularly true in contemporary society where social conflicts are far more common than encounters with predators. A basically harmless but emotionally charged situation can trigger our amygdala's fight or flight reflexes before we know what's happening, causing conflict, stress, anxiety, and frustration.
Certain kinds of meditation (also, martial arts, yoga, etc.) train attention to watch the entire experience, so it's possible to catch emotional reflexes before they take over--but at the same time without squashing or denying the emotion (which would only cause additional frustration). The trick is that there is very little time to do this (roughly a quarter of a second) before the amygdala takes over and the person is flooded with emotion. But the idea is that a skilled meditator can quickly reframe fear and anger, and mould them into constructive responses and perhaps even good cheer.
The different roles of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex can be easily observed under the influence of various drugs. Alcohol depresses the brain generally, but the complicated prefrontal cortex is more affected than the comparatively simple and robust amygdala, resulting in lowered inhibitions, decreased attention span, and increased influence of emotions over behaviour. Likewise, the controversial drug ritalin has the opposite effect, because it stimulates activity in the prefrontal cortex.
Some other studies of meditation have linked the practice to increased activity in the left prefrontal cortex, which is associated with concentration, planning, meta-cognition (thinking about thinking), and with positive affect (good feelings). There are similar studies linking depression and anxiety with decreased activity in the same region, and/or with dominant activity in the right prefrontal cortex. Meditation increases activity in the left prefrontal cortex, and the changes are stable over time--even if you stop meditating for a while, the effect lingers.
Water And Sunlight Helps To Clear Acne
Drink More Water
The skin stores around 12% water. It is important to maintain this amount with the correct amount of good fat to keep your skin from getting acne. You need to drink around 2 quarts of distilled water every day. If you are not drinking this amount, just start increasing the amount that you do drink.
Drinking water helps you get rid of toxins in the blood. By drinking water, you will urinate more and more toxins will be eliminated. The cleaner your blood the healthier your skin will be and your will not have a problem with acne.
Use glass containers when buying distilled or reverse osmosis water. Try to avoid using plastic containers for water since plastic containers contain chemicals, left in the container walls during manufacturing, which leaches out into the water.
If you are drinking fresh juices, you will also be getting water from these juices. Drinking sodas is not drinking water.
Here’s a few things you do to help you drink more water or to make the water healthier. Find a 16 or 32 oz glass container and add distilled water. Then add one of the following nutrients:
* A few drops of Alkalife. This solution changes the pH of the water from 7 to 8 and also activates the water with its electrolytes – sodium and potassium.
* Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the water. Do not add sugar. A few drops of honey may be ok.
* Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the water and add up to one teaspoon of powdered MSM. MSM is excellent for the skin disorders such as acne. It makes the skin cells more flexible, allowing more nutrients to go into and out of the cells, and its anti-inflammatory. MSM is also excellent in activating peristaltic action and will prevent constipation.
* Put 2 oz of mangosteen into the water. Mangosteen is an over all body tonic. It works on all parts of the body and will help keep you regular.
You can also choose to add your favorite nutritional flavor to give water an additional value.
Chose one of these natural additives for your water and drink this water little by little all day long. This is one more thing you can do to get rid of acne, improve your skin texture or to keep the nice skin you already have.
Get Some Sunshine
One more thing you can do for your skin is to get more natural light.
Expose your face to plenty of sun and air. This helps your skin to heal faster. But don’t purposely place your face in the sun, but remaining in the shade and open outdoors gives you plenty of sun and air.
At least 20 – 40 minutes a day in the outdoors is necessary for you to get sufficient vitamin D for you daily needs.
The skin stores around 12% water. It is important to maintain this amount with the correct amount of good fat to keep your skin from getting acne. You need to drink around 2 quarts of distilled water every day. If you are not drinking this amount, just start increasing the amount that you do drink.
Drinking water helps you get rid of toxins in the blood. By drinking water, you will urinate more and more toxins will be eliminated. The cleaner your blood the healthier your skin will be and your will not have a problem with acne.
Use glass containers when buying distilled or reverse osmosis water. Try to avoid using plastic containers for water since plastic containers contain chemicals, left in the container walls during manufacturing, which leaches out into the water.
If you are drinking fresh juices, you will also be getting water from these juices. Drinking sodas is not drinking water.
Here’s a few things you do to help you drink more water or to make the water healthier. Find a 16 or 32 oz glass container and add distilled water. Then add one of the following nutrients:
* A few drops of Alkalife. This solution changes the pH of the water from 7 to 8 and also activates the water with its electrolytes – sodium and potassium.
* Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the water. Do not add sugar. A few drops of honey may be ok.
* Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the water and add up to one teaspoon of powdered MSM. MSM is excellent for the skin disorders such as acne. It makes the skin cells more flexible, allowing more nutrients to go into and out of the cells, and its anti-inflammatory. MSM is also excellent in activating peristaltic action and will prevent constipation.
* Put 2 oz of mangosteen into the water. Mangosteen is an over all body tonic. It works on all parts of the body and will help keep you regular.
You can also choose to add your favorite nutritional flavor to give water an additional value.
Chose one of these natural additives for your water and drink this water little by little all day long. This is one more thing you can do to get rid of acne, improve your skin texture or to keep the nice skin you already have.
Get Some Sunshine
One more thing you can do for your skin is to get more natural light.
Expose your face to plenty of sun and air. This helps your skin to heal faster. But don’t purposely place your face in the sun, but remaining in the shade and open outdoors gives you plenty of sun and air.
At least 20 – 40 minutes a day in the outdoors is necessary for you to get sufficient vitamin D for you daily needs.
Fruits For Constipation
Fruits are made by nature and are a perfect food. They contain the right balance of nutrients with distilled water. You gain enormous benefits from eating fruits especially if you eat the outer skin and eat them without cooking. They are easy to digest and absorb and do not stress your colon.
Fruits contain fiber, which help to cleanse your colon and prevent constipation. Most fruits help provide the body with minerals that help the body reduce acid as it is created. And most important of all, fruits help cleanse the body of mucus slime that accumulates throughout the body.
Fruits do not leave any slime residue in the body when eaten except when they have pesticides and preservatives in their outer skin. They do not ferment or putrefy in your colon, as do processed foods, dairy products and meats.
Choose your fruits carefully. They should be eaten when they are fully ripe. Do not eat them if they are under ripe or overripe. In the under ripe condition they may be acidic and in the overripe condition the many contain more natural sugar.
Fruits, vegetables, and grains contain fructooligosaccharides, FOS. It is this compound that helps to feed the good bacteria in your colon. Without an adequate supply of FOS, good bacteria will dwindle and bad bacteria will flourish.
Just Plain Fruits
Eat fruits throughout the day but especially in the evening. This will help to promote a bowel movement in the morning. These are the fruits you should eat.
* Apples
* Apricots
* Avocados
* Bananas
* Blueberries
* Boysenberries
* Cantaloupes
* Cherries
* Figs and dates
* Grapes
* Lemons
* Papayas
* Peaches
* Pears
* Persimmons
* Plums
* Prunes
* Raspberries
Apples
Eat 3-4 apples a day to relieve constipation. It does not matter what type of apple you eat, but I like gala or Fuji apples since they are small and crisp.
It is best to use fresh organic apples when eating apples as a snack since you will not know what pesticides were used in growing the apples. If apples are not organic, it is better to peel the apple before eating.
Using baked apples also helps to clear constipation.
Eat one baked apple at night, right before bedtime, and one just upon rising. Do this until you constipation is cleared.
In his book, John Heinerman, Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs, describes how to bake apples:
“Cut apples in half and clear out the centers. Add chopped dates to the center. Pour some cranberry juice over the dates and apples. Then sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on the top. You can pour cranberry juice on some of the apples and see if you like the taste after they are cooked. Cook apples for 46-60 min at 375-400 C.”
Dried Apples
Dried apple slices are also a good source of fiber. However, when the slices are dehydrated most nutrients are lost but fiber is retained. Sulfur dioxide is typically used to dry apple slices and this can cause allergic or asthmatic reactions in some people. I do not recommend using dried apple slices in place of fresh organic apples.
Just Apples and Mineral Water
Just after waking, eat two unpeeled apples, chew well, and then drink 8 oz of water that has two drops of Alkalife. Or, you can use any other mineral additive or supplement you use.
This combination of apples and activated mineral water will stimulate your colon to become less sluggish and to move fecal matter out of the rectum.
Fruits contain fiber, which help to cleanse your colon and prevent constipation. Most fruits help provide the body with minerals that help the body reduce acid as it is created. And most important of all, fruits help cleanse the body of mucus slime that accumulates throughout the body.
Fruits do not leave any slime residue in the body when eaten except when they have pesticides and preservatives in their outer skin. They do not ferment or putrefy in your colon, as do processed foods, dairy products and meats.
Choose your fruits carefully. They should be eaten when they are fully ripe. Do not eat them if they are under ripe or overripe. In the under ripe condition they may be acidic and in the overripe condition the many contain more natural sugar.
Fruits, vegetables, and grains contain fructooligosaccharides, FOS. It is this compound that helps to feed the good bacteria in your colon. Without an adequate supply of FOS, good bacteria will dwindle and bad bacteria will flourish.
Just Plain Fruits
Eat fruits throughout the day but especially in the evening. This will help to promote a bowel movement in the morning. These are the fruits you should eat.
* Apples
* Apricots
* Avocados
* Bananas
* Blueberries
* Boysenberries
* Cantaloupes
* Cherries
* Figs and dates
* Grapes
* Lemons
* Papayas
* Peaches
* Pears
* Persimmons
* Plums
* Prunes
* Raspberries
Apples
Eat 3-4 apples a day to relieve constipation. It does not matter what type of apple you eat, but I like gala or Fuji apples since they are small and crisp.
It is best to use fresh organic apples when eating apples as a snack since you will not know what pesticides were used in growing the apples. If apples are not organic, it is better to peel the apple before eating.
Using baked apples also helps to clear constipation.
Eat one baked apple at night, right before bedtime, and one just upon rising. Do this until you constipation is cleared.
In his book, John Heinerman, Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs, describes how to bake apples:
“Cut apples in half and clear out the centers. Add chopped dates to the center. Pour some cranberry juice over the dates and apples. Then sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on the top. You can pour cranberry juice on some of the apples and see if you like the taste after they are cooked. Cook apples for 46-60 min at 375-400 C.”
Dried Apples
Dried apple slices are also a good source of fiber. However, when the slices are dehydrated most nutrients are lost but fiber is retained. Sulfur dioxide is typically used to dry apple slices and this can cause allergic or asthmatic reactions in some people. I do not recommend using dried apple slices in place of fresh organic apples.
Just Apples and Mineral Water
Just after waking, eat two unpeeled apples, chew well, and then drink 8 oz of water that has two drops of Alkalife. Or, you can use any other mineral additive or supplement you use.
This combination of apples and activated mineral water will stimulate your colon to become less sluggish and to move fecal matter out of the rectum.
Natural Treatment For Depression - Is There An Alternative?
Many people who are suffering from mild to moderate depression, are choosing to either forego drugs entirely, or to supplement the minimum dosage their doctor will prescribe, with natural treatment for depression.
This can include a number of lifestyle alterations, and even herbal treatment for depression. The choices are entirely up to the patient, who as always, should consult with their physician before undertaking any regimen on their own.
One of the first things that Naturopaths will look at for a client suffering from depression, is dietary deficiencies. They may ask you to have blood tests that will measure levels of such things as the B complex vitamins in your system. These have been identified as some of the vitamins that figure largely in natural treatment for depression.
Of course, a balanced, healthy diet is of prime importance. Next, comes vitamin supplements, with an emphasis on those your body is lacking.
Add to those things, a good exercise program consisting of at least three "aerobic", or concentrated sessions of exercise a week. This can not only reduce stress, but burn off the adrenalin that comes with anxiety. Exercise produces natural endorphins as well.
With your doctor's approval, you can also try some of the herbal treatments for depression, but only if they are aware of what you are taking, in order to check for contraindications against any other medications you might be on.
St. John's Wort is the herb cited most frequently for treatment of depression, but the amount to be taken can vary greatly between patients, from as little as 300mg daily to as much as 2700mg. This is where consultation with your doctor and a Naturopath can help.
Some studies have also show that Gingko Bilboa is beneficial, as are herbs specific to treatment of "female problems", such as PMS, menopause, and post natal depression.
If natural treatment for depression is the path you want to follow, get the very best advice you can, and get yourself back on the road to good mental health.
This can include a number of lifestyle alterations, and even herbal treatment for depression. The choices are entirely up to the patient, who as always, should consult with their physician before undertaking any regimen on their own.
One of the first things that Naturopaths will look at for a client suffering from depression, is dietary deficiencies. They may ask you to have blood tests that will measure levels of such things as the B complex vitamins in your system. These have been identified as some of the vitamins that figure largely in natural treatment for depression.
Of course, a balanced, healthy diet is of prime importance. Next, comes vitamin supplements, with an emphasis on those your body is lacking.
Add to those things, a good exercise program consisting of at least three "aerobic", or concentrated sessions of exercise a week. This can not only reduce stress, but burn off the adrenalin that comes with anxiety. Exercise produces natural endorphins as well.
With your doctor's approval, you can also try some of the herbal treatments for depression, but only if they are aware of what you are taking, in order to check for contraindications against any other medications you might be on.
St. John's Wort is the herb cited most frequently for treatment of depression, but the amount to be taken can vary greatly between patients, from as little as 300mg daily to as much as 2700mg. This is where consultation with your doctor and a Naturopath can help.
Some studies have also show that Gingko Bilboa is beneficial, as are herbs specific to treatment of "female problems", such as PMS, menopause, and post natal depression.
If natural treatment for depression is the path you want to follow, get the very best advice you can, and get yourself back on the road to good mental health.
Acid Reflux And Heartburn Natural Remedies
Here is a list of natural remedies that you can use when you have acid reflux or heartburn. No need to use antacids, which have unwanted side effects and contain aluminum, which has been associated with senility and Alzheimer’s disease.
Anise, peppermint, and lavender
Here’s a tea that you can make to help you with acid reflux or heartburn. It will help you reduce the amount of acid you have in your stomach. Mix together equal amounts of aniseed, peppermint and lavender. Make an infusion of this tea:
* boiling 2 ½ cup distilled water
* pour this water over a teaspoon of the herbal mixture
* let this tea sit for 3- 5 minutes
* strain the tea and add a little bit of honey if you like.
* place this tea in a thermos
Drink up to 8 oz in the morning and 8 oz in the evening to get relief of acid reflux.
Aniseed or anise – is a powerful herb that helps in digestive conditions and has many other benefits for your body. Use only the ash-colored anise called green anise, European anise or sweet anise. There are two other types of anise, star anise and caraway, which should not be used here.
Peppermint – is another powerful herb for stomach conditions or heartburn. It helps in digestion, stomach distension, cramps, ulcers, and gas.
Lavender – known for it scent has enormous healing activity for your body. Is also an excellent stomach aid. It is useful in reducing acid in the stomach.
Betain, Pepsin, and Papaya digestive enzymes
As you get older, your stomach weakens in its ability to produce hydrochloric acid to digest protein. It is undigested protein that leads to acid reflux or heartburn. Use digestive enzymes that contain Betain, pepsin, or HCl with each meal to make sure you digest all of your protein.
Papaya digestive enzymes, which contain papain, are also excellent for protein digestion and you can use them with each meal. Use 500mg or more of papaya enzymes per meal.
Pineapples
Pineapples are a store house of enzymes and contain bromelain, an enzymes that reduces protein. Pineapples support digestion, reduce inflammation, and supports wound healing. The fresh juice has a high level of enzymes that will help you stop your acid reflux.
You can also buy bromelain as tablet and take 200 – 500mg per meal.
Chicory Root
Chicory comes from a family of bitter herbs that contain endive and escarole. Boil 1 ½ cup of chicory root for 5 - 10 minutes. After it colds to room temperature, drink this tea to correct acid reflux or heartburn.
Adding these herbs to your salad will also have benefits in preventing acid reflux. Eating those foods that are alkaline is the best way to avoid acid reflux and heartburn.
Using the remedies listed here will give relief from your acid reflux. But more importantly add a salad to your diet everyday and you will have less acid reflux in your life.
Anise, peppermint, and lavender
Here’s a tea that you can make to help you with acid reflux or heartburn. It will help you reduce the amount of acid you have in your stomach. Mix together equal amounts of aniseed, peppermint and lavender. Make an infusion of this tea:
* boiling 2 ½ cup distilled water
* pour this water over a teaspoon of the herbal mixture
* let this tea sit for 3- 5 minutes
* strain the tea and add a little bit of honey if you like.
* place this tea in a thermos
Drink up to 8 oz in the morning and 8 oz in the evening to get relief of acid reflux.
Aniseed or anise – is a powerful herb that helps in digestive conditions and has many other benefits for your body. Use only the ash-colored anise called green anise, European anise or sweet anise. There are two other types of anise, star anise and caraway, which should not be used here.
Peppermint – is another powerful herb for stomach conditions or heartburn. It helps in digestion, stomach distension, cramps, ulcers, and gas.
Lavender – known for it scent has enormous healing activity for your body. Is also an excellent stomach aid. It is useful in reducing acid in the stomach.
Betain, Pepsin, and Papaya digestive enzymes
As you get older, your stomach weakens in its ability to produce hydrochloric acid to digest protein. It is undigested protein that leads to acid reflux or heartburn. Use digestive enzymes that contain Betain, pepsin, or HCl with each meal to make sure you digest all of your protein.
Papaya digestive enzymes, which contain papain, are also excellent for protein digestion and you can use them with each meal. Use 500mg or more of papaya enzymes per meal.
Pineapples
Pineapples are a store house of enzymes and contain bromelain, an enzymes that reduces protein. Pineapples support digestion, reduce inflammation, and supports wound healing. The fresh juice has a high level of enzymes that will help you stop your acid reflux.
You can also buy bromelain as tablet and take 200 – 500mg per meal.
Chicory Root
Chicory comes from a family of bitter herbs that contain endive and escarole. Boil 1 ½ cup of chicory root for 5 - 10 minutes. After it colds to room temperature, drink this tea to correct acid reflux or heartburn.
Adding these herbs to your salad will also have benefits in preventing acid reflux. Eating those foods that are alkaline is the best way to avoid acid reflux and heartburn.
Using the remedies listed here will give relief from your acid reflux. But more importantly add a salad to your diet everyday and you will have less acid reflux in your life.
How To Nip The Problem In The Bud... Prevent Hair Loss
Hair loss is universal problem and millions of people worldwide are suffering from some degree of hair loss. There are several cures for hair loss.
However, they do not work on all. Some types of hair loss or baldness do not respond to the treatments. Nevertheless, hair loss is preventable and good care and regular maintenance of hair can go a long way in preventing hair loss. Here are some tips to take care of your mane -
#1 Keep it Clean
Dirt and excess oil in the scalp can clog the pores, making it difficult for the hair root to receive nutrition and grow. This is a major reason for hair loss. Frequently shampoo your hair and use clean combs. Trimming of split ends is essential to prevent major hair damage.
#2 Take Care Of Diet
Ultimately, the hair, like any other body part, requires nutrition to stay healthy and grow. Malnutrition and imbalanced diet can be a major reason for hair loss. Include vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium, chromium, iodine, potassium, zinc and Vitamin A in your diet.
There is no need to take mega doses because they can at times be counterproductive. Evidence suggests that excess of Vitamins A and E can actually contribute to hair loss.
#3 Do Not Overdo It
Excessive exposure to heat and chemicals such as hair colors, styling products, hot iron and blow dryers can cause damage to hair and result in severe hair loss. You should use these products sparingly.
Instead of blow dryers, make time to allow your hair to dry naturally. Get your hair styled in a manner that does not require any of the above-mentioned procedures.
#4 Give Yourself A Head Massage
A gentle head massage with a hair oil helps to improve blood circulation to the hair roots and prevent hair loss. Aromatherapy recommends creating hair oil using equivalent parts of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood.
#5 Avoid Stress
Stress is damaging for the hair. Get adequate sleep and follow stress reduction techniques to prevent hair loss.
#6 Be Careful Of Medication
Certain medications such as anti-depressants, some drugs taken for epilepsy, cancer have hair loss as a side effect. Consult with your doctor before taking medication to prevent hair loss.
#7 Hormone Tests
Thyroid disorders can cause hair loss. Get hormone tests for thyroid on a regular basis.
It is rightly said that prevention is better than cure. By adopting the above-mentioned methods, you can prevent hair loss and maintain good health of your hair.
However, they do not work on all. Some types of hair loss or baldness do not respond to the treatments. Nevertheless, hair loss is preventable and good care and regular maintenance of hair can go a long way in preventing hair loss. Here are some tips to take care of your mane -
#1 Keep it Clean
Dirt and excess oil in the scalp can clog the pores, making it difficult for the hair root to receive nutrition and grow. This is a major reason for hair loss. Frequently shampoo your hair and use clean combs. Trimming of split ends is essential to prevent major hair damage.
#2 Take Care Of Diet
Ultimately, the hair, like any other body part, requires nutrition to stay healthy and grow. Malnutrition and imbalanced diet can be a major reason for hair loss. Include vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium, chromium, iodine, potassium, zinc and Vitamin A in your diet.
There is no need to take mega doses because they can at times be counterproductive. Evidence suggests that excess of Vitamins A and E can actually contribute to hair loss.
#3 Do Not Overdo It
Excessive exposure to heat and chemicals such as hair colors, styling products, hot iron and blow dryers can cause damage to hair and result in severe hair loss. You should use these products sparingly.
Instead of blow dryers, make time to allow your hair to dry naturally. Get your hair styled in a manner that does not require any of the above-mentioned procedures.
#4 Give Yourself A Head Massage
A gentle head massage with a hair oil helps to improve blood circulation to the hair roots and prevent hair loss. Aromatherapy recommends creating hair oil using equivalent parts of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood.
#5 Avoid Stress
Stress is damaging for the hair. Get adequate sleep and follow stress reduction techniques to prevent hair loss.
#6 Be Careful Of Medication
Certain medications such as anti-depressants, some drugs taken for epilepsy, cancer have hair loss as a side effect. Consult with your doctor before taking medication to prevent hair loss.
#7 Hormone Tests
Thyroid disorders can cause hair loss. Get hormone tests for thyroid on a regular basis.
It is rightly said that prevention is better than cure. By adopting the above-mentioned methods, you can prevent hair loss and maintain good health of your hair.
Do You Know About These Remedies For Hair Loss?
Millions of the people worldwide suffer from hair loss and this is the reason why hair loss remedies are a billion dollar industry.
The answer to the million-dollar question of how to get hair back is to know how you lost it in the first place. You can determine the correct remedy for hair loss only after you know the exact cause of hair loss.
#1 Get Your Hormones Checked
Specific problems with the hormones such as thyroid and pituitary is a cause of hair loss. Consult your doctor to conduct relevant tests and rule out this possibility. If a hormonal imbalance were the reason for hair loss, the doctor would recommend a course of appropriate drugs to solve the problem.
#2 Anti - Androgenic Therapy
Excessive amount of DHT (which is a component of the male hormone) causes hair loss and baldness. If DHT were the problem and causing hair loss, the doctor would put you on drugs that form a part of antiandrogen therapy. In women, the treatment is called CPA (cyproterone acetate) with ethinyl-estradiol. The therapy typically lasts for a period of one year.
#3 Some Wonder Drugs - Over the years, researchers have invented certain drugs that work very successfully for hair loss. This includes minoxidil (more popularly known as Rogaine) and finasteride. However, finasteride is not for good for hair loss among women.
#4 Keep the Scalp Clean
Clean the scalp of dirt, dandruff and excess oil can help prevent hair loss.
#5 Hair Transplant
Hair transplant is surgical method to treat hair loss. It involves operations that extract parts of the scalp from the sides and back of the head where the hair grows well. It is then implanted on those regions of the head that are going bald.
Hair re-growth is possible because the hair follicles in the side and the back of the head are immune to the hair loss problems. However, It is an expensive procedure. It costs approximately $15,000 and takes 1-2 years to complete.
#6 Hair Weaving
Hair weaving is not a surgical method for hair loss. This cosmetic procedure attaches extensions of natural or synthetic hair.
#7 Tissue Expansion
In this procedure, silicone bags are inserted beneath hair-bearing skin to expand the tissues. This is then transferred to the areas with a hair loss or baldness.
#8 Other Solutions
Some other solutions camouflage the hair loss or baldness problem. These include using wigs or toupees and getting a smart haircut to hide thinning hair or bald patches. For this process, you need the services of a skilled barber.
The answer to the million-dollar question of how to get hair back is to know how you lost it in the first place. You can determine the correct remedy for hair loss only after you know the exact cause of hair loss.
#1 Get Your Hormones Checked
Specific problems with the hormones such as thyroid and pituitary is a cause of hair loss. Consult your doctor to conduct relevant tests and rule out this possibility. If a hormonal imbalance were the reason for hair loss, the doctor would recommend a course of appropriate drugs to solve the problem.
#2 Anti - Androgenic Therapy
Excessive amount of DHT (which is a component of the male hormone) causes hair loss and baldness. If DHT were the problem and causing hair loss, the doctor would put you on drugs that form a part of antiandrogen therapy. In women, the treatment is called CPA (cyproterone acetate) with ethinyl-estradiol. The therapy typically lasts for a period of one year.
#3 Some Wonder Drugs - Over the years, researchers have invented certain drugs that work very successfully for hair loss. This includes minoxidil (more popularly known as Rogaine) and finasteride. However, finasteride is not for good for hair loss among women.
#4 Keep the Scalp Clean
Clean the scalp of dirt, dandruff and excess oil can help prevent hair loss.
#5 Hair Transplant
Hair transplant is surgical method to treat hair loss. It involves operations that extract parts of the scalp from the sides and back of the head where the hair grows well. It is then implanted on those regions of the head that are going bald.
Hair re-growth is possible because the hair follicles in the side and the back of the head are immune to the hair loss problems. However, It is an expensive procedure. It costs approximately $15,000 and takes 1-2 years to complete.
#6 Hair Weaving
Hair weaving is not a surgical method for hair loss. This cosmetic procedure attaches extensions of natural or synthetic hair.
#7 Tissue Expansion
In this procedure, silicone bags are inserted beneath hair-bearing skin to expand the tissues. This is then transferred to the areas with a hair loss or baldness.
#8 Other Solutions
Some other solutions camouflage the hair loss or baldness problem. These include using wigs or toupees and getting a smart haircut to hide thinning hair or bald patches. For this process, you need the services of a skilled barber.
Misleading Pharmaceutical Advertising
In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration relaxed the rules for drug advertising on television and radio. Since that time, the airwaves have been flooded with commercials for all sorts of drugs. Some of them are vague, with a simple “Ask your doctor if drug x is right for you”; others spell out what the drug is used for and devote the commercial to telling you how much you will appreciate your product. Most consumers will probably assume that these commercials are honest, that the drugs will do what the ads say they will do, and that there are no side effects other than those mentioned in the ad. That may not be true, and consumers should be aware that the ads may not tell the whole story, and that they may be misleading.
The pharmaceutical industry spends $9 billion per year advertising their products, and the money they spend on television and radio ads is probably the most effective. Doctors may be skeptical of a product touted by a salesman, but consumers are easily swayed by television ads that show people living happy, productive lives while being treated for an ailment using the advertised product. Unfortunately, these ads may not be completely honest. In 2004, the FDA investigated thirty-six ads for drugs that the agency found to be misleading or incomplete in their descriptions of side effects. Consumers might think that the commercials must be honest, since the FDA wouldn’t allow dishonest commercials to air. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The FDA does not require pharmaceutical companies to provide screening copies of their advertisements prior to airing. The FDA doesn’t actually see the ads until the consumers do. Several months may pass before the FDA takes action. In the case of misleading advertising, the most the FDA can usually do is ask the companies to either stop running the ads or to change them. These requests aren’t always timely, however. In the last five years, the FDA has asked the drug companies to stop running several ads that had already stopped running!
What this means for consumers is that some doubt should be exercised while viewing a commercial for a new drug. If you think an advertised product may be useful to you, discuss it with your physician, but ask if they know of any problems associated with the product. Research the product on the Internet. When your health is at stake, a little caution may be a good idea.
The pharmaceutical industry spends $9 billion per year advertising their products, and the money they spend on television and radio ads is probably the most effective. Doctors may be skeptical of a product touted by a salesman, but consumers are easily swayed by television ads that show people living happy, productive lives while being treated for an ailment using the advertised product. Unfortunately, these ads may not be completely honest. In 2004, the FDA investigated thirty-six ads for drugs that the agency found to be misleading or incomplete in their descriptions of side effects. Consumers might think that the commercials must be honest, since the FDA wouldn’t allow dishonest commercials to air. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The FDA does not require pharmaceutical companies to provide screening copies of their advertisements prior to airing. The FDA doesn’t actually see the ads until the consumers do. Several months may pass before the FDA takes action. In the case of misleading advertising, the most the FDA can usually do is ask the companies to either stop running the ads or to change them. These requests aren’t always timely, however. In the last five years, the FDA has asked the drug companies to stop running several ads that had already stopped running!
What this means for consumers is that some doubt should be exercised while viewing a commercial for a new drug. If you think an advertised product may be useful to you, discuss it with your physician, but ask if they know of any problems associated with the product. Research the product on the Internet. When your health is at stake, a little caution may be a good idea.
Reduce Cholestorol naturally
Eating raw celery is an excellent and healthy way to reduce high cholesterol blood levels. According to tests by researchers at the University of Chicago, celery reduces cholesterol levels by as much as 7 points with as little as 2 stalks a day.
Not all the cholesterol that causes problems comes from food. The liver manufactures up to 75 percent of the cholesterol in the body. It is in the liver that cholesterol is manufactured and broken down by special enzymes to be removed from the body. Celery aids this process by increasing bile acid secretion. Laboratory studies also indicate that butyl phthalide, a chemical in celery, may help reduce high cholesterol.
Medical experts say that celery is good for people with circulation problems because celery fights fat. Serious circulatory problems can be caused by too much cholesterol in the blood. Heart attacks and strokes are the two most common complications caused by hardening and blockage of the arteries. Celery contains chemicals that stimulate the elimination of fat throughout the body says a physician at the University of Italy in Milan.
Celery is high in calcium. High calcium intake invigorates the endocrine system which releases hormones that break down fatty buildup in cells. The adrenal and thyroid glands secrete the hormone adrenaline and thyroxine respectively, which help to burn accumulated fats in the body cells. The pituitary gland secretes at least nine known hormones which influence body weight gain and loss.
By aiding the body's processes in dissolving already accumulated cholesterol on the interior walls of the arteries, known as plaque, and helping the liver to metabolize and prevent additional formation of cholesterol, celery is an excellent food for cholesterol control.
Not all the cholesterol that causes problems comes from food. The liver manufactures up to 75 percent of the cholesterol in the body. It is in the liver that cholesterol is manufactured and broken down by special enzymes to be removed from the body. Celery aids this process by increasing bile acid secretion. Laboratory studies also indicate that butyl phthalide, a chemical in celery, may help reduce high cholesterol.
Medical experts say that celery is good for people with circulation problems because celery fights fat. Serious circulatory problems can be caused by too much cholesterol in the blood. Heart attacks and strokes are the two most common complications caused by hardening and blockage of the arteries. Celery contains chemicals that stimulate the elimination of fat throughout the body says a physician at the University of Italy in Milan.
Celery is high in calcium. High calcium intake invigorates the endocrine system which releases hormones that break down fatty buildup in cells. The adrenal and thyroid glands secrete the hormone adrenaline and thyroxine respectively, which help to burn accumulated fats in the body cells. The pituitary gland secretes at least nine known hormones which influence body weight gain and loss.
By aiding the body's processes in dissolving already accumulated cholesterol on the interior walls of the arteries, known as plaque, and helping the liver to metabolize and prevent additional formation of cholesterol, celery is an excellent food for cholesterol control.
Hair Care Tips
The way our hair looks and feels is such an important matter to us “women”. It is the frame of our faces. Therefore, one of the first things people notice when they see us. So it is only natural that we all want to have it looking and feeling the best way possible. However, if you want to have radiant, shiny hair there is one thing you must understand whether it is straight, wavy, curly or coarse: In order to have healthy hair we must take proper care of it. This takes extra effort but, the results are more than worth it. Below I have added some tips that guarantee to give hair a healthy sheen and maintain it (for any hair type).
• Chemicals like hair relaxers and color can really damage the structure of your hair. However, I do not believe that women will stop using them and we don’t have to as long as we maintain their use to a minimal and take care of it properly.
• Deep condition it every week or at least every two weeks. How can you do this? Shampoo hair as usual, rinse off, apply your favorite conditioner, cover hair with a plastic cap and get under a bonnet or hard hat hair dryer. Stay there anywhere from 10-20 minutes. If you don’t have a bonnet dryer you might want to use the blower to heat over the plastic cap and last rinse conditioner off.
• Whether you do your hair at home or at the salon you should start setting or doing rollers rather than drying it up with the blower or other hot appliances (bonnet dryer heat is less damaging). Hair rollers will leave it with more body but, if you want a sleeker look you may want to use the blow dryer afterwards, just to get the look you want. Your hair will look nice while maintaining the use of hot appliances to a minimal amount of time. Note: heat rollers should also be avoided.
• Do not wash hair daily. Wait for at least four to seven days before your next wash. Washing your hair too often strips away its natural oils.
• Use leave in hair treatments.
• Use hair products that help protect it from the sun. The label should say UVA & UVB Protection or SPF.
• Sleep with a satin or silk pillow case. You can find them in your local beauty shop or department store for a few dollars.
• Eat properly and take multi vitamins to ensure you are getting all the required nutrients for your body in general and hair.
• Chemicals like hair relaxers and color can really damage the structure of your hair. However, I do not believe that women will stop using them and we don’t have to as long as we maintain their use to a minimal and take care of it properly.
• Deep condition it every week or at least every two weeks. How can you do this? Shampoo hair as usual, rinse off, apply your favorite conditioner, cover hair with a plastic cap and get under a bonnet or hard hat hair dryer. Stay there anywhere from 10-20 minutes. If you don’t have a bonnet dryer you might want to use the blower to heat over the plastic cap and last rinse conditioner off.
• Whether you do your hair at home or at the salon you should start setting or doing rollers rather than drying it up with the blower or other hot appliances (bonnet dryer heat is less damaging). Hair rollers will leave it with more body but, if you want a sleeker look you may want to use the blow dryer afterwards, just to get the look you want. Your hair will look nice while maintaining the use of hot appliances to a minimal amount of time. Note: heat rollers should also be avoided.
• Do not wash hair daily. Wait for at least four to seven days before your next wash. Washing your hair too often strips away its natural oils.
• Use leave in hair treatments.
• Use hair products that help protect it from the sun. The label should say UVA & UVB Protection or SPF.
• Sleep with a satin or silk pillow case. You can find them in your local beauty shop or department store for a few dollars.
• Eat properly and take multi vitamins to ensure you are getting all the required nutrients for your body in general and hair.
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